Thousands march to demand Scottish independence

Wind and rain no deterrent as supporters parade through Glasgow

Saturday 11 January 2020 17:22

(Getty)

Thousands of people have marched through Glasgow demanding Scottish independence.

Supporters from across the country paraded through the city during the first of eight such events planned for the coming year.

A mass rally that was due to take place following the march on Saturday afternoon was cancelled at the last minute because of bad weather.

But the wind and rain did not deter supporters as they walked from the city’s Kelvingrove Park through to Glasgow Green waving Saltire flags and holding banners reading simply ‘Yes’.

Neil Mackay, of All Under One Banner, the campaigning group which organised the event, said: “Organising outdoor events in Scotland in winter is always difficult and is always subject to our weather.

“We had a number of great speakers lined up for the rally, so it is a pity it will not now take place. We have apologised to the speakers for the cancellation and they have all been very understanding and supportive.”

Scottish independence: What will happen to key British institutions?

Show all 7

1/7Scottish independence: What will happen to key British institutions?

Scottish independence: What will happen to key British institutions?

The 2015 General Election

If it votes for independence, Scotland won’t leave the union until 2016 meaning, under current arrangements, that if Scots decide to go it alone they will still vote in the 2015 general election. The possibility of Scotland swinging the vote in favour of the government with which it will negotiate their independence has led some to call for the elections to be delayed. Downing Street has said, however, that it has no plans to postpone the election despite claims a yes vote could lead to a constitutional crisis.

AFP

Scottish independence: What will happen to key British institutions?

The NHS

Alex Salmond has said a Yes vote in the referendum is the only way to save Scotland’s National Health Service. This claim was undermined, however, yesterday when research published by the Institute for Fiscal Studies determined that Scotland’s devolved government spent less in real terms on its health service than England. Despite this, the splitting up of the NHS would be more straightforward than other institutions, as it is already managed from Holyrood.

Getty Images

Scottish independence: What will happen to key British institutions?

The BBC

The Licence fee in Scotland currently raises around £230m which the Yes campaign says it would use, along with the assets of BBC Scotland, to create a Scottish Broadcasting Service or SBS. It says the SBS would continue to provide original content to the BBC and Scotland would receive access to all current programming, including BBC1, BBC2 and national radio stations. The government has said since February that an independent Scotland would lose any automatic rights to BBC programming.

Scottish independence: What will happen to key British institutions?

The Pound

The No Campaign is hoping that doubts over whether or not Scotland will be able to keep the pound will sway the referendum in its favour. George Osborne has said that the UK will not let Scotland keep the pound if it votes to leave the union and the leader of the Better Together coalition, former Chancellor Alistair Darling, has called the Yes campaign’s suggestion that it keep the currency “mad”. Alex Salmond has claimed repeatedly that Scotland will be able to retain the pound and has said speculation to the contrary is little more than fear mongering.

Getty

Scottish independence: What will happen to key British institutions?

The Army

Britain’s involvement in the Iraq war and the stationing of the Trident Nuclear fleet north of the border are unpopular in Scotland. The Scottish Nationalists have railed against the war saying they would scrap Trident and create a new Scottish defence force based on existing Scottish regiments.

Scottish independence: What will happen to key British institutions?

The Royal Family

Scotland would keep the Queen as a head of state under current plans proposed by the Yes campaign, as Elizabeth Queen of Scots. It would also remain part of the Commonwealth. However a second referendum could be held to determine what form a new Scottish state would take.

Getty Images

Scottish independence: What will happen to key British institutions?

Sport

Scotland’s Rugby and Football teams would remain as they are if Scotland voted to leave the UK but the British and Irish Lions could be forced into a name change. What would happen to the British Olympic Association also remains up for debate. Scotland’s most successful Olympian Sir Chris Hoy has said he is wary of independence because of the number of Scottish athletes living and training in England and what their status would be.

Getty Images

He estimated some 80,000 people had attended the march.

Ahead of the event, First Minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: “Good luck to everyone marching for independence in Glasgow today – hope the weather isn’t too bad! Sorry I can’t be there today, but look forward to seeing you all again soon. In the meantime, sending my support and best wishes.”

In December, she wrote to Boris Johnson demanding a Section 30 order which would grant Holyrood the power to hold a second vote on Scottish independence following 2015’s referendum.

Downing Street has thus far given the letter short shrift and said it was against such a poll in the immediate future.

Several similar marches have been arranged to take place throughout the year, with the next set for Arbroath in April.

Join our new commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies